Relay



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllll June -9, 1925.

H. w. BROWN RELAY Filed July i5, 1921 Lbodiment ot Patentedjune 9,17925. t

HAROLD W. BROWN,

ENT OFFICE. 'i

RELAY.

Application led July 5,

To all 'u1/wm it may concern.' v

Be it known that I, HAROLD lV. BROWN,

Aa citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the'countyof Schenectady,

mined conditions, and an object of my invention is to provide animproved highly sensitive relay certain in its operation and adapted tobe readily arranged'to operate in response to "various circuitconditions such as predetermined current, undervoltage,

freverse polarity, reverse power or combina' tions of these conditions.

"My invention will be better understood from the following descriptiontaken in connection with tie accompanying two sheets of drawings, andits scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically one yembodiment of my invention;Fig. 2 shows; in perspective, a practical form of the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows, .in perspective, thearmature of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig; 2; Fig. 4-is anelevation of one 'form of contact controlling device adapted for usewith my invention; F i0. 5 is an elevation of a double-action Contactcontrolling device; Fig.v '6 illustrates diagrammatically the armatureof the relay displaced from the neutral position; Fig. 7 showsdiagrammatieally a form of edgewise wound coil adaptedfor use with theembodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 2;

8 illustrates diagrammatically a'modifcation ol' my invention; and Fig.9 shows, in perspective, a practical form of the emmy inventionillustrated in Fig. 8.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises an armature lpivotally mounted within a winding comprising coils 2 and between pairsof polar projections 3. 3 and 4, 4, having opposite polar-ities, ot amagnetic structure 5 which may be either permanently magnetized orenergized by a winding or coil 6 connected for example across a circuit7. lVith the magnetic structure 5 permanently magnetized or energized1921. Serial No. 482,630.

by a current in the winding 6, the armature 1 will tend to turn on itspivot in one direction or the other depending upon the direction oi'current in the oils 2. Thus, for example, if polar projections 8, 3 areof north polarity and polar projections4, 4 south and the direction ofcurrent in coils 2 is such that the end 8 of armature 1 has a north poleand the end 9 a south pole, then the joint action of the two magneticiields tends to cause the armature 1 toturn on its pivot toward polarprojections 3 and 4, and,

it' the direction of current in coils 2 were reversed, then the armaturel would tend to turn on its pivot in the opposite direction towardspolar projectionsB and 4. It is therefore obvionsthat, if the movableelement or armature 1 were provided with suitable contact controllingdevices, the embodiment of my invention shown diagrammatieally in Fig. 1would be adaptedto respond to various predetermined conditions tooperate,the contact devices, which may be arranged to ycontrol suitableprotective apparatus for the system 'in vwhichvthe relay kis connected.

Fig. 2 shows a practical form of the embodiment of my invetnion shown inFig. l, a part of the device being removed and shown at the left. Inthis form, of my invention, an armature 1 'is arranged within andpivotally mounted intermediate the spaced coils of a winding 2 andbetween pairs of polar projections 3, 3 and 4, 4 of l The polar projec--a magnetic structure 5. tion `4 does not appear in the perspective shownin Fig. 2, but its positionopposite polar projection 3 will be obviousfrom Fig. l. The magnetic structure 5 may be either permanentlymagnetized or the polarizing fiuxmay be produced by a winding 6, whichtends to prevent undue interference from stray magneticields and also tomake the 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, AS/SIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, AVCORPORATION OF NEW YORK. p i i relay more sensitive in itsoperation. vThe y winding 6 may also be used when it is desired to havethe value of the polarizing fiux vary with the circuit condition. lVitheither arrangement, the polar projections 3, 3 will be of like polarityas will also the polar projections 4, 4 but the polarity of the latterpair will differ from that of the former. The armature-1 will,therefore, turn on its pivoted mounting in one direction or the otheraccording to the direction of the current in coils 2, that is to say,according to thefpolarities 'produced in the ends of the armature 1 bythe magnetic eld of the coils 2. The coils 2 may be edgewise wound andformed from one piece of suitable conducting material and with anoii'set 10 between them as shown in Fig. 7, thus avoiding the necessityof separate means for connecting the two parts of the winding andproviding ample room Jfor the pivoted mounting of the armature 1 whichis clearly shown in Fig. 3. The armature 1 is provided with a projectingportion or pin 11 for carrying a contact controlling member such as 12ot' Fig. 2 or 13 of Figs. 4i and 5.

Referring again to Fig. 2, a plate 14, removed from the magneticstructure 5 and shown at the left for the salie of clearness, isprovided with a slot 15 through which the armature pin 11 projects toreceive the contact controlling member-12. The plate 14 carries a.contact finger 16 against which the contact controlling member 12adapted to abut to complete a control circuit, not shown, through leads17 and 18. When the plate 14 is secured in place against the polarprojections 3 and 1', the contact controlling member 12 is slipped onthe pin 11 and suitable biasing means, such as aspring 19 secured to thepin 11 to aid in biasing the armature 1 to a predetermined position.Suitable adjusting means 20 is provided for varying the force of thespring 19. vWith this arrangement, the relay is ot a circuit openingtype operative in desponse to a change in the direction or' the currentin coils 2, such as would occur tor example upon a reversal of power inan electric circuit 7, to controll the ope "ation of suitable circuitinterrupting means, not shown, through Aa control circuit including thecontact controlling member 12 and the cooperating contact linger 16. Inorder to obtain increased sensitiveness of operation, the armature 1 isheld displaced from the central or neutral position, shown in Fig. 1, bya stop 21 of non-magnetic material. This displaced position isshown inFig. 6 where the arrow A indicates the direction in which the armature 1tends to mote with current in the normal direction, and arrow Bindicates the direction of movement ot the armature 1 upon reversal ot'current in the coils 2.

Thus with the form of my relay shown in Fig. 2 and with current 1nnormal direction in the coils 2, the armature 1, under move thus drawingcontact controlling member 12 away from contact finger 1G. ABy mountingthe contact finger 16 on the opposite side of the slot 15 in the plate14,

. from that shown in Fig. 2, it is obvious that the relay would becircuit closing for thel vconditions described.

Theformof my relay shown in Fig. 2 is also adapted to operate on eithera reversal of current or current below a predetermined amount in thecoils 2 as tollo\vs:- As long as the current in the coils 2 is in thenormal direction and above a predetermined amount, the armature 1 willbe held against a non-magnetic stop 22 by the joint action of the coils2 and 6 opposing the action of the spring 19. It now the current dropsbelow the predetermined value, the

spring 19 will move the armature 1 1n a direction to bring contactcontrolling member 12 against contact finger 16 or it the current in thecoils 2 is reversed the joint action of the coils 2 and 6 assists thespring 19 in moving the armature 1 and therefore contact controllingmember 12 in contact closing direction. By mounting the Contact finger16 on the opposite side of the slot 15 in the plate 14k from that shown,it is ohvious that the relay would be circuit openingunder theconditions described.

My invention is not, however, limited to an arrangement in which thecoils 2 are arranged for operation in response to thel current in thesystem. there desired, both windings of the relay may be made voltageresponsive. lVith such an arrangement, the relay will operate uponunder-voltage. Vhere the magnetic structure is permanently magnetized,or excited from a source ot electromotive force of constant polarity,the relay will operate upon under-voltage or reverse polarity or both.

Fig. 4 illustrates another form of contact controlling mechanism adaptedfor use with my relay. This Contact controlling mechanism comprisesarigid member 23 ot suit-- able conducting vmaterial provided with oneor more contacts 2a adapted to cooperate with one or more contacts 25.'The rigid member 23 lits loosely over a. bushing 26 held in place bysuitable fastening means such as a bolt 27 that serves to tasten a'resilient element or spring 28 to a fixed base or supporting bracket 29adapted to be mounted on the relay structure. One end of the spring 28is secured to the rigid member 23 and the other end is bent around aportion of the bracket 29 to prevent lateral displacement ot the member23 and the spring 28. The resilient element or spring 28 serves to biasthe rigid member 23 in a predetermined direction against thecontactcontrolling member 13 and also as a conductor to carry currentfrom the base or bracket 29 to the rigid member 23 which is actuated bythe 'rollercor contact controlling, member 13 carried on the projectingportion or pin 11 of the armature l.

ItI is possible to arrange my relay to control two circuit controllindevices selecsecure this result, I provide a double-actionr deviceillustrated inFig. 5. This' device comprises two sets of cooperatingcontacts 24-25 and 24*25, the contacts 24 and 24 being mounted on therigid members 23 and 23 respectively, each of which has a inountingsimilar to that shown in Fig. 4. The members 23 and 23" are biasedtowards the contact controlling member 13 by their respective springs 28and 28. In order to obtain the double-action feature, that is to say tocontrol the contacts so that the action of each setof contacts can beindependently calibrated, I provide a control member such as a lever 30pivotally mounted on the `Yarmaturerpin 11 and biased for movementinresponse to the actuation of the armature 1 about either one of a pairof fixed pivots oi-- fulcrums 31 and 32- by suitable biasing means suchas springs 33 and 34 provided with adjusting means 35 and 3Grespectively.V The fulcrum 31 is arranged within a cutout orrecessedportion 37 of the lever 30 and the fulcrum 32n within a cut outor recessed portionu38, the projecting portions 39 of which limit themovement of the lever 30 about the fulciiim 3l.'

The displaced position in the direction ot motion on a reversal'ofcurrent in coils 2 of the armature 1, as illustrated in Fig. 6, may beobtained by varying the position of either or both of the fulcrums 31and 32.

The middle position ofthe parts shown in Fig. 5 corresponds to a currentflow below a predetermined amount in thel winding of the armature 1, thecontacts'24 and 25 being 'open and the contacts 24 and 25\ closed.Assuming now current flow in the normal direction and above thepredetermined amount, the armature is defiected to the left carryingwith it the contact controlling member 13 to closethe contacts 24' and25 and turning the lever3O about the fulcrun'i 31 against the action of.biasing -n'ieans or spring 34. The eifect of spring 33 to oppose this`motion is negligible sincel its pull is substantially in line withfulcrum 31, its effect being merely to assist in `holding the lever 30against this fulcruin'.`

Upon a reversal of current in'the winding of the armature 1, thecontact`controlling member 13 would be moved to the right through-themiddle position thus allowing Contact 24 to move away from contact '25under the action of sprin 28. and moving contact 24 to. circuit openingposition, and

the lever 30 would be turned against the action of biasing means orsprings33, about the fulcrum 32 againstjwhich the lever 30' `is held .bythe spring 34. By this arrangement, it is, therefore, possible tocalibrate independently the `responsiveness of two sets of contactsoperative iniresponse to f-different predetermined conditions. W'hen thelever`3() pivots about the fulcrum 31 any slight friction produced atthe fulcrum 32 is negligible in eiiect since there is ample lpower inthe relay at this time.. To produce sensitive operation in the reversedirection,

however, when the lever'pivots about fu.

cruin 32 it is desirable to have as little fric. tion as possible. Thespring 33 is therefore somewhat inclined pto exert a component force tohold the lever down against the fulcrum 32. Fulcrum 31 is thereforeentirely disengaged from the lever 30.l Then my relay is used ondirect-current circuits and is provided with the double-action ea turedescribed, it is preferable to have the coils 2 connected across a shuntin series with the circuit to-be protected. Then, when the circuit isinterrupted, there will be no tendency for the armature 1 to move beyondthe'iniddle position and thus actuate the contact 24 as the inductiveeffect of the coils 2 inthe circuit including ,the shunt will produce aslowly collapsing field tlierei by prolonging the action of the currentcoils and preventing .any tendency the armature might have toovertravel. With the double-action feature shown, both vsets of contactsare circuit opening,jone set on current below a predetermined amount andthe other set upon a reversal of current in the armature winding.Obviously, the contacts 24-*25 and 24-25 maybe arranged/on either sideof their respective rigid members 23, 23 as illustrated in Fig.y 4.Consequently, .the relay'may be arranged to have both sets of contactseither circuit opening or circuit closing or either one'of the sets ofcontacts can be circuit opening and the f other 'set circuit closing.

Fig. 8 illustratesl diagrammatically a `modiication of. my inventioncomprising a movable element or-armature 40, pivotally mounted betweenpairs of polar projections j .4l-41' and 42-42 of a magnetic structure43. The polar projections are. arranged to be energized by a winding 44lcomprising Acoils 45 connected in circuit to'produce a diagonallyopposite .polar projectionsl and weaken the other pair of diagonallyopposite polar projections and vice versa for current in the oppositedirection. Consequently the armature 40 will be actuated in onestrengthened vpolar projections in accordance with the direction of thecurrent in the winding 4G. Therefore, it the armature 49 were providedwith suitable contact controlling devices, the embodiment of myinvention shown in Fig. S-would be adapted to respond to variouspredetermined conditions in an electric circuit 47, for example, toprotect the same as well as apparatus installed thereon.

Fig. 9 shows a practical form of the embodiment of my inventionillustrated in Fig. S. as adapted for mounting on a switchboard with thelegs of the magnetic structure 43 projecting therethrough and providedwith an extension member 4S arranged to surround a current carryingmember such as a bus bar 49, the magnetic field ot' which will establisha i'lux in the magnetic structure 4?. The tlux thus established may bein either direction depending upon the direction ot' the current in themember 49. Obviously the structure'may be similar to that shown in Fig.S, the current carrying member 49 being replaced by a winding 4Garranged to produce flux in either direction in the magnetic structure43. In order to fasten the relay to the switchboard, fastening means orbolts 50 secured to a non-magnetic member 51, which is attached to themagnetic structure 43, are provided which extend through the switchboardto receive nuts on the rear side thereof. For clearness, the switchboardis not shown. The polar projections 4l, 4l, 4-2 and 42 of the magneticstructure 43 are arranged to be energized by a winding coniprising coils45 preferably connected in series with each other and in circuit toprovide a polarizing flux in the polar projections such that polarprojections 4l, 4l are of like polarity as are also polar projections42, 42 but the polarity ot the former differs 'from that ot' thellatter. The armature 40 is pivotally mounted -between the polarprojections on a pivot 52 journaled in bearings or non-magnetic pieces53 secured to the polar projections as shown. The armature 4() isdisplaced from the middle or neutral position, as illustrated in Fig. 6,by a suitable stop to obtain a high degree of sensitiveness in operationwhen the current in the conductor 49 reverses in flow from the normaldirection. Secured to the mag-4 netic structure 43 is an insulatingmember 54 on which are mounted'cooperating con- -tacts 55 and 5Garranged to be controlled by direction or' the other toward theL tacts55 and 56 are held closed with current in the normal direction in theconductor member 49, but on a reversal of current in this member thejoint action of the magnetic fields produced in the magnetic structure43 by the coils 45 and the conductor member 49, as heretofore explained,will actuate the armature against the action ot' the spring 57 to causethe opening of the contacts. Obviously the relay may be made circuitclosing on reversal of current in conductor 49 by reversing thearrangement ot the contacts. Similarly it is clear that the relay isadapted to operate on current below a predetermined amount in theconductor 49 as well as a reversal of current therein by merely placingthe spring 57 on the opposite side of the armature 40 from that shown.In this case the armature 40 wouldv be biased towards the polarprojections 4l and 42 by the spring 57 and a predetermined current flowin the conductor 49 would hold the armature in a position to closecontacts 55 and 56 against the action of spring 57. lV ith current inthe conductor 49 below the predetermined amount the spring 57 would movethe armature 4() to open contacts o5 and 5G or with a reversal ofcurrent in the conductor 49, the joint action ot the magnetic ieldsproduced by coils 45 and conductor 49 would assist the spring to movethe armature in Contact controlling direc.-

tion. Obviously the relay contacts 55 andy 56 may be varranged to beeither circuit opening or circuit closing under these conditions. It isalso evident that the double action Contact controlling arrangementshown in Fig. 5 may be used with the modilication of my relay shown inFigs. 8 and 9.

Referring again to the modification ot' my invention sh'own in Figs. 1and 2, thel magnetic circuit energized by the coils 2 is arranged tobecome locally saturated by reducing the cross-section of the magneticpath thereof as illustrated in Fig. 3, where the armature l is providedwith openings or holes 59 which limit or restrict the flux path.Similarly in the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9,the 1nagnetic circuit energized by the conductor 49 is arranged tobecomelocally saturated by reducing the cross-section of the magnetic, paththereof as illustrated in Fig. 9, where the magnetic structure 43 isprovided with openings or holes G0, located as shown, so that only themagnetic circuit ot the conductor 49 is locally saturated. This featureot localized saturation produces effects that are particularlydesirable. in electroresponsive devices or relays operative in responseto current either below a predetermined amount or in a predetermineddirection in one of the windings. One of these effects is to keep the'total lux so small on normal current that other parts of the magneticcircuit do not become saturatedvand the rev, required to bring the fluxtozero is less than other.

would be required in the case of a longer saturated magnetic path.Another effect is to keep the total flux produced by current above lapredetermined amount, that is to say normal or excessive current in thecoils Qof Eig. 2, in the winding 46 of Fig. 8, or in the conductorLLilof Fig. 9, so small that the relay cannot operate by the action ofeither magnetic element independent of the Without this localizedsaturation, particularly if the .armature is out of the theoretically.neutral position or displaced as is especially desirable in order toobtain increased sensitivity of operation, the flux in the fourpolarprojections could be greatly unbalanced. Consequently, the magneticforce might reverse the flux through the polar projections near whichthe armature is held and operatethe relay independently of thepolarizing flux in the.polar projections and thus produce an erroneousoperation of the relay,.that is to say the relay would operate underconditions other than those for which it is intended to respond.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that the severalembodiments of my invention, utilizing windings for .producing both thepolarizing and operating fluxes, are capable of use in many relationsupon alternating current circuits as well as upon di?- rect currentcircuits.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail,I do not wish to be limited to the specific' details thereof,y as shownand described, but may use such modifications, substitutions, orequivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention. I

What I claim as new and/,desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is 1. A protective relay of the class described,comprising a plurality of polar pro; jections, an armature pivotallymounted between said polar projectionsy and a winding adapted to controlthe iu'x of said armature to cause movement of the same in one directionor the other, the iux path for said lWinding being locally restricted inarea to become saturated upon a predetermined current in said rWindingwhereby the retentivity of the magnetic circuit is reduced and abnormalcurrents in said winding are prevented `.fionrreversing the polaritiesof said polar projections.

2. A protective relay of the class described, comprising a plurality ofpolar projections, an armature pivotally mounted between said polar.projections, a polarizing winding for said polar projections, a secondwinding adapted to control the flux of said armature' to cause movementof the same in one direction or the other, the iux path for said secondwinding being locally restricted in area to become saturated uponpredeter- ,mined current through said second winding, whereby theretentivity of the magnetic circuit 1s reduced and abnormal currents insaid second winding are prevented from repath for a polarizing magneticflux, a cur- Arent winding adapted to produce a flux in saidA structurecoacting/ivith the polarizing flux to control the operation of thearmature characterized bv the fact that a portion ofL the flux path forthe current Winding is re ,duced in area. to permit local saturationwith. a predetermined current in said winding.

4. A protective relay of the class described comprising a moyablearmature, a member pivotally relatedto said armature, ulcrums aboutwhich said member is respectively movable in accordance with thedirection vof 1 y member is arranged to move in accordance with thedirection of movement of the armature from the intermediate positionand.

against both of which said member is arranged to bear when the armatureis in the intermediateV position, and a spring device adjacent each'fulcrum arranged to exert a force substantially in line therewithtending to.hold said member against the ful,- crum whereby oppositemovements of the armatureare substantially independently opposed by therespective' spring devices.

6. A protective relay of the class described, comprising a plurality ofpolar prejections, an armature, pivotally mounted between said polarprojections, a Awinding adapted to control the flux of said armature tocause movement ofthe same in one direction or the other, a controlmember pivotally related to said armature, fulcrums about which saidmember is respectively movable in accordance with the directiono-fmovement of the armature` and independently scribed, comprising aplurality ot polar projections, an armature pivotally mounted betweensaid polar projections, a polarizing winding for said polar projections,a second winding adapted to control the flux -ot said armature to causemovement of the same in one direction or the other, a lever pivotallyrelated to said armature. fulcrums about which said lever` isrespectively movable in accordance with the direction of movement of thearmature, means tending to hold said lever against said fulcrums andopposing movement ot said lever about the respective tulcrums, andcontacts on each side of said armature biased thereto and controlled bythe movement thereof.

8. A protective relav of the class described comprising a plurality ofpolar projections, an armature pivotally mounted between sai d polarprojections, a winding adapted to control the flux of said armature tocause Inovement of the same in one direction or the other according tothe direction of the current in the winding, the flux path for saidwinding being,r `locally restricted inl area to become saturated upon apredetermined current in said winding, whereby the retentivity ot themagnetic circuit is reduced and abnormal currents in said winding areprevented trom reversing the polarities of said polar projections, andmeans adapted to prevent said armature from assuming a neutral positionbetween said polar project-ions whereby the sensitiveness of thearmature movement is increased upon a reversal of current in saidwinding.

9.` An electro-responsive device of the class described comprising amagnetic structure provided with a plurality of oppositely disposedpolar project-ions, a winding adapted toproduce a polarizing ux in saidmagnetic structure and thereby to magnetize said polar projections, anarmature pivotally mounted between said polar projections, a secondwinding adapted to pro- Y my hand this 1st duce a flux in said magneticstructure and Y thereby to control the flux ot said armature to actuatethe same in one direction or the other in accordance with the directionot the current in said second winding, characterized by the fact thatthe iux path of said second winding is locally restricted in area tobecome saturated upon predetermined eurrent through said second windingwhereby the retentivity of the magnetic circuit is reduced and abnormalcurrents in said second winding are prevented from rcversing themagnetism Vin the polar projections magnetized by said first winding.

10. A protective relay of the class de# scribed, comprising a magneticstructure having .oppositely disposed polar projections, a Winding onsaid structure adapted to produce a polarizing iiux there-in and therebyto magnetize said polar projections, a winding surrounding said armatureadapted to produce a linx therein to cause movement of the same in onedirection or the other in accordance with the direction of current insaid winding, contacts controlled by said armature, and openings in saidarmature locally restricting the flux path ot said second winding tocause the flux path thereof to become saturated on predetermined currenttherein whereby the retentivity of the magnetic circuit is reduced andabnormal currents in said `second winding are prevented Yfrom reversingthe polari ties of said polar projections.

1l. A protective relay of the class described comprisingV a.l movablearmature, a control member pivotally related to said armature,;tullcrums about which said member is respectively movable in accordancewith the direction ofmovement of said armature, and means tending tohold said member against one of said fulerums and opposing movement ofsaid member about the other fulcrum.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set day of July 1921. HAROLD lV.BROVN.

